For the silver anniversary meeting of the Highland Biological Recording Group on Saturday, members had been asked to bring anything with a silver theme. I decided to take in a live specimen, which is why just before the meeting my wife and I were crawling around our kitchen floor. We were after a silverfish, with many normally found under carpets and cupboards. These primitive, wingless insects are only 15mm long, and scuttle around at incredible speed. There was the added problem of five dachshunds who thought it was all a game and decided to join in. We eventually caught one and put it into a small plastic tube.

Ro Scott, editor of the Atlas of Highland Mammals, which is due to be printed this week, focused on some of the land mammals recorded. There were surprises such as wild boar now breeding in the "wild" in southern parts west of the Great Glen between Loch Arkaig and Glengarry. The house mouse appears to have become rare with few sightings: one theory is the competition and dominance of the wood mouse. Sixty members attended the AGM – a great success – but sadly still no youngsters in the audience.

Meanwhile, in our garden, the birds have been flocking in with the colder weather. One morning well over 100 chaffinches were taking advantage of the various feeders hanging from the trees or on the ground. There were several yellowhammers with them, and one male brambling, while the Nyjer feeder had attracted four goldfinches. The coal tits seemed most interested in the feeder with sunflower hearts, perhaps because these seeds are the easiest to peck out and carry away to store for future use. The large bird table, 4ft by 2ft, has mixed seed and it is still attracting several mandarin ducks, including the spectacular males.